CWE-1273: Device Unlock Credential Sharing

What is Device Unlock Credential Sharing?

• Overview: Device Unlock Credential Sharing (CWE-1273) occurs when the credentials needed to unlock a device's advanced capabilities are shared among multiple parties, increasing the risk of exposing sensitive information. This typically involves unlocking debugging or manufacturer-specific features for troubleshooting, which can be sensitive and security-critical.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can intercept or gain access to the shared credentials through weak security practices or insufficient access controls.
• Common attack patterns include social engineering, insider threats, and exploiting insufficiently secured communication channels.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized access to sensitive device functionalities, such as memory dumps or disabling security mechanisms.
• Potential cascading effects could lead to further exploitation of device vulnerabilities, data breaches, or compromised system integrity.
• Business impact may include loss of intellectual property, legal liabilities, and damage to reputation.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include implementing strict access controls and encryption for credential storage and transmission.
• Security best practices involve minimizing the number of parties with access to unlock credentials and employing robust authentication and authorization protocols.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include using hardware security modules (HSMs) for secure key management and employing secure communication protocols like TLS for data transmission.

Corgea can automatically detect and fix Device Unlock Credential Sharing in your codebase. [Try Corgea free today](https://corgea.app).

Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: VHDL, Verilog, Compiled

Affected Technologies: Other, Not Technology-Specific

Vulnerable Code Example

library IEEE;
use IEEE.STD_LOGIC_1164.ALL;

entity DeviceControl is
    Port ( 
        unlock_signal : in  STD_LOGIC;
        shared_key : in  STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(127 downto 0); -- Vulnerable: The unlock key is shared among multiple entities
        device_status : out STD_LOGIC
    );
end DeviceControl;

architecture Behavioral of DeviceControl is
begin
    process(unlock_signal, shared_key)
    begin
        if unlock_signal = '1' then
            if shared_key = "10101010101010101010101010101010" then -- Vulnerable: Hardcoded key used for unlocking
                device_status <= '1';
            else
                device_status <= '0';
            end if;
        end if;
    end process;
end Behavioral;

Explanation of Vulnerability:

• Credential Sharing: The shared_key is directly used in the unlocking process. This implies that the key could be easily intercepted or misused if not securely managed.
• Hardcoded Key: The use of a hardcoded unlock key is a critical security flaw. If an attacker discovers this key, they can unlock the device without authorization.

How to fix Device Unlock Credential Sharing?

To address the vulnerability of device unlock credential sharing, the following best practices should be implemented:

1. Credential Isolation: Ensure each device or entity uses a unique credential, eliminating shared keys.
2. Secure Key Storage: Utilize secure storage solutions, such as hardware security modules, to store keys securely.
3. Key Management: Implement a robust key management strategy, including regular key rotation and avoiding hardcoded keys.

Fixed Code Example

library IEEE;
use IEEE.STD_LOGIC_1164.ALL;

entity DeviceControl is
    Port ( 
        unlock_signal : in  STD_LOGIC;
        device_id : in  STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(15 downto 0); -- Use a unique device identifier instead of a shared key
        device_status : out STD_LOGIC
    );
end DeviceControl;

architecture Behavioral of DeviceControl is
    signal stored_key : STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(127 downto 0); -- Securely store key, specific to each device
begin
    process(unlock_signal, device_id)
    begin
        -- Assume retrieve_key is a secure function to get the key for a specific device
        stored_key <= retrieve_key(device_id); -- Securely retrieve the key based on device_id

        if unlock_signal = '1' then
            if stored_key = retrieve_key(device_id) then -- Use securely retrieved key for comparison
                device_status <= '1';
            else
                device_status <= '0';
            end if;
        end if;
    end process;
end Behavioral;

Explanation of the Fix:

• Unique Device ID: Each device uses a unique identifier (device_id), removing the need for shared keys and enhancing security.
• Secure Key Retrieval: Keys are retrieved securely at runtime using a function like retrieve_key, which accesses secure storage, ensuring they are not exposed or hardcoded.
• Avoid Hardcoding: The key comparison uses a securely retrieved key for each device, preventing unauthorized access through hardcoded credentials.